Gaffney Makes One Change

Munster coach Alan Gaffney makes one change, from the side that started against Gloucester, for Saturday s round 5 game against Benetton Treviso, with Gordon McIlwham replacing Marcus Horan.

Munster coach Alan Gaffney makes one change, from the side that started against Gloucester, for Saturday s round 5 game against Benetton Treviso, with Gordon McIlwham retaining his place in the front row in place of the man he replaced, Marcus Horan.

Horan injured his back in that game and although a scan on Monday showed he had suffered no serious damage it was sufficently sore to rule him out of this game. It s nothing serious really, the scan he had was clear, said coach Alan Gaffney, but medical advice was that he needed rest so that s what he will get. I think we are very fortunate to have Gordon (McIlwham) to step in and a player of Simon Kerr s calibre on the bench.

Gaffney is expecting a stern test against the Italians. There may be the idea out there among our supporters that this will be easy but that’s not way that I or indeed the players see it. This will be a tough game and we will have to play as well if not better than we did last weekend if we are to get anything out of it. Treviso have already beaten Bourgoin at this venue and they scored three tries in Bourgoin last weekend.

So we are under no illusions about the task ahead. Now that is not coach-speak. Treviso will throw everything at us and if we are not at our best then the work we did last weekend will be undone.”

Munster Team:

Shaun Payne; John Kelly, Mike Mullins, Rob Henderson, Anthony Horgan; Ronan O Gara, Peter Stringer; Gordon McIlwham, Frank Sheahan, John Hayes; Donncha O Callaghan, Paul O Connell Jim Williams (Capt), David Wallace, Anthony Foley

Replacements: James Blaney, Simon Kerr, David Pusey, Stephen Keogh, Eoin Reddan, Jeremy Staunton, Jason Holland.

Munster v Benetton Treviso Heineken Cup Round 5 Saturday, January 24th. Kick-off 2.30pm (local time)